Next week, we will take up the Collection for the Church in Latin America. Your generosity to the collection is invaluable to the future of the faith in this region. Your donations will fund catechesis, marriage and family life programs, and seminarian formation. Please give with a joyful and generous heart. Please support programs like these and give generously in next week’s collection. (usccb.org/nationalcollections)

The Social Ministries Collection is a helping hand to non-profits working for those on the margins of society.

The January 2015 Special Collection, to be taken up the weekend of January 17-18, has been designated a “Catholic Social Ministries Collection,” to support Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Boston, St. Mary’s Women and Children’s Center, Inc., and St. Ann’s Home and School.

Each of these established, non-profit organizations serve populations within our Archdiocese that are on the margins of society and in need of our care, outreach, and concern. Cardinal Seán has asked for this special Catholic Social Ministries Collection in response to the call of Pope Francis to be a “Church which is poor and for the poor” and to recognize our responsibility as disciples to “find Christ in them (the poor), to lend our voice to their causes, but also to be their friends, to listen to them, to speak for them and to embrace the mysterious wisdom which God wishes to share with us through them.” (Evangelii Gaudium 198) The generous response of parishioners to this collection will help sustain the vital work that occurs each day through these organizations and will impact and improve the lives of those whom they serve.

Cardinal Seán has authorized a special collection for the weekend of Sept. 27-28 to provide humanitarian relief and pastoral support for our affected brothers and sisters in the Middle East. Parishioners are asked to address any checks, envelopes, or online contributions to the parish with “Middle East Collection 2014” in the memo. Thank you for your attentiveness to this important collection and expression of our solidarity with those who are suffering.

Next week, the diocese-wide collection for the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust will support the health and well-being of our 628 Boston priests.

Our priests have been there when we needed them. Now, it is our turn to help fulfill the promises made to ensure the highest quality of care and quality of life for them when they need us.

All are welcome to make a gift online at clergyfunds.org or use the in-pew envelopes provided.

Be sure to watch the short video at clergyfunds.org to see how your contributions help to support Regina Cleri, the residence for Senior Priests in Boston, which is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Thank you in advance for your generous and prayerful support of our priests.

The following are Senior Priests who have served faithfully at St. Mary-St. Catherine of Siena Parish. Please consider remembering them in your prayers when contributing to our second collection.

Cardinal Seán O’Malley has authorized a special collection, to be taken the weekend of September 27-28, to provide humanitarian relief and pastoral support for our affected brothers and sisters in the Middle East.

All donations collected will be distributed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to Catholic Relief Services and other Catholic agencies working in partnership with the local church to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs facing the people in Iraq, Gaza, Syria, and surrounding countries where refugees have fled. These organizations have well-established partnerships with the Catholic Church in the region which allows them to respond quickly and efficiently to victims in some of the hardest to reach areas. Funds will be used to support Church programs to aid persecuted Christians and to respond to rebuilding needs of Catholic dioceses in the impacted areas.

Parishioners are asked to address checks, envelopes, or online contributions to the parish with “Middle East Collection 2014” in the memo. Thank you for your attentiveness to this important collection and expression of our solidarity with those who are suffering.

Prayer for Those Who are Being Persecuted in Iraq and Syria

Lord, the plight of their country is deep and the suffering of Christians is severe and frightening. Therefore, we ask you, Lord, to spare their lives, and to grant them patience and courage to continue their witness of Christian values with trust and hope. We pray also for those of other minority religions who are being persecuted.

Lord, peace is the foundation of life; grant them all the peace and stability that will enable them to live with each other without fear and anxiety, and with dignity and joy. Glory be to you, O Lord. Amen.

Cardinal Seán O’Malley has authorized a special collection, to be taken the weekend of September 27-28, to provide humanitarian relief and pastoral support for our affected brothers and sisters in the Middle East.

All monies collected will be distributed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to Catholic Relief Services and other Catholic agencies working in partnership with the local church to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs facing the people in Iraq, Gaza, Syria, and surrounding countries where refugees have fled. These organizations have well-established partnerships with the Catholic Church in the region which allows them to respond quickly and efficiently to victims in some of the hardest to reach areas. Funds will be used to support Church programs to aid persecuted Christians and to respond to rebuilding needs of Catholic dioceses in the impacted areas.

Parishioners are asked to address any checks, envelopes, or online contributions to the parish with “Middle East Collection 2014” in the memo.

On behalf of Cardinal Seán, thank you for your attentiveness to this important collection and expression of our solidarity with those who are suffering.

Next weekend’s collection supports the formation and training of seminarians in the Archdiocese of Boston for future service as priests. We are blessed that many are responding to the call to serve. Please be generous and support these seminarians on their journey toward ordination to the priesthood. For more information, please visit VocationsBoston.org.

Next week’s second collection supports the Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC). The CCC develops media programming, projects, and resources that promote Gospel values. Fifty percent supports the development and production of national media programming, while the other 50% of the collection will remain at the Parish to support local communication efforts, such as website technology and bulletins. Please visit usccb.org/ccc for more information.

This weekend’s second collection supports Catholic military priest-chaplains through our Home Missions collection. Priest-Chaplains bless our troops with the healing power of the sacraments and good counsel—and they need your support!

About 250 Catholic chaplains serve on active duty. They minister to Catholics in the armed forces and U.S. military academies. Another 250 Catholic chaplains specifically serve patients in 153 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.

Despite increased demand, the ranks of active-duty Catholic priest-chaplains have dropped due to priests reaching retirement faster than they can be replaced. Catholics make up roughly 25% of the military, but only 8% of chaplains are Catholic. Often, our young Catholic servicemen and women turn to other denominations for pastoral care due to a lack of Catholic priests.

The Home Missions collection also supports the call to evangelize active-duty young adults, for those who meet the pastoral care of this young generation, and for those who need to hear the Word of God proclaimed boldly and authentically.

Photo: Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the U.S. Military Services, washes the feet Holy Thursday of a U.S. soldier serving in Afghanistan at Shindand Air Base, located in Herat province. Archbishop Broglio made his pastoral visit to Afghanistan April 15-21. (CNS photo/courtesy of the Archdiocese for the U.S. Military Services)